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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll says it would be wrong to downplay the upcoming discussions between his town and Rothesay on how to better co-operate.

Driscoll is part of a committee that will take part in the face to face discussions with their counterparts in Rothesay and has no doubt a study on amalgamation will be talked about as well. He doesn't see the point of talking about amalgamation until you have all the information about the ramifications.

In his view, Driscoll doesn't believe there are any burning issues of disagreement between the two towns and there's a misperception they're at one another's throats.

The time has come for Saint John to develop a strategy on arts and culture to build on the momentum of being designated a cultural capital of Canada this year.

That message being delivered by one of the candidates running in the December 13th byelection to fill the seat on Common Council left vacant when Carl Killen was elected as the M-L-A for Saint John Harbour.

Mark Leger tells CHSJ News he disagrees with those people who dismiss spending on arts and culture as a waste of money. Leger goes on to say culture is much more than just public art and can become a vital part of the local economy especially when cities are trying to attract people of creativity who work in the knowledge economy.

There have been noises from the Alward Government about privatising NB Liquor.

Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation in the Atlantic Region tells CHSJ News this would be a good step for all concerned. He predicts if NB Liquor were privatised, there would be more competitition, better service for consumers and government revenues would actually increase as a result.

Given the size of the deficit, Lacey can see the province privatising more of its assets such as the iconic Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrews.

There was more eyewitness testimony at the 2nd degree murder trial of 28 year old Crystal Dawn McKenzie who's charged in the stabbing death of her common law husband, 29 year old Patrick Thomas.

Two people who live at 260 Waterloo Street told the court what they saw in the early morning of March 15th.

Both say they heard yelling in the street and saw McKenzie being pinned against a wall and dragged along Alma Street by the hair before emerging from an apartment building on Alma Street with a knife raised above her shoulder.

The court was told there was a struggle before the man fell to the ground.

Both of the witnesses testified McKenzie was friendly, nice and not violent.

Used goods are no longer being accepted at Hestia House due to the recent out-break of bed bugs around the Province.

Director Elaine Northrup tells CHSJ News, this is a direct hit to it's residents who are looking for clothing and furniture to set up an apartment with. Northrup says the shelter has not been hit with bed-bugs and by putting this measure in place, they hope to keep it that way.

Modern technology has taken another step forward for anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing.

Access is now available to Tele-Care with TTY systems for anyone who suffers from either condition to use the telephone to communicate by typing messages.

Tele-Care is a provincewide, 24-hour, toll-free bilingual service that provides a range of health-related information, including advice and assistance on how best to get health-care services for specific needs.

Nominations close tomorrow for the December 13th municipal by-elections here in the city and in Grand Bay-Westfield.
So far -- four people have filed nomination papers for the vacant Ward 3 seat -- John Campbell - Mark Leger - Anne-Marie Mullin - and - Danny Robichaud.
In Grand Bay-Westfield there are three official candidates for the vacant council seat -- Stephen Evans - Mike Likely - and - Allen Titus.
Nomination papers must be filed by tomorrow afternoon at two.

As predicted, the price of gasoline, diesel, propane and furnace oil are all up.

The Energy and Utilities Board has released it's latest weekly price setting which shows the maximum retail for unleaded gasoline is $105.2, diesel comes in at $111.9, furnace oil is selling for 92.1 a litre and propane tops off at 97.8.